China’s decision to slap hefty preliminary anti-dumping duties on European Union pork imports has sparked fresh tensions in an already fraught trade relationship between Beijing and Brussels. On September 5, 2025, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced that, starting September 10, it will impose duties ranging from 15.6% to a staggering 62.4% on a wide range of EU pork products, including fresh and frozen meat, intestines, and other by-products. The move, which comes amid ongoing disputes over electric vehicle tariffs, is being watched closely by pork producers, traders, and policymakers on both sides of the world.
According to The Associated Press, China’s Commerce Ministry said its preliminary investigation found that EU producers were dumping pork and pig by-products on the Chinese market—selling them at prices either below the cost of production or lower than what they charge in their home countries. The ministry claimed these practices were causing “substantial damage” to China’s domestic pork industry. Although the ruling is provisional, the duties will take immediate effect, with EU exporters required to pay cash deposits. Whether those deposits might be returned if the final ruling changes remains unclear.
The timing of China’s action is hardly coincidental. As The Economic Times notes, the anti-dumping investigation into EU pork began in June 2024, just days after the European Union imposed its own provisional tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, citing unfair subsidization. Many in the industry and diplomatic circles see Beijing’s move as a direct counterpunch—a classic tit-for-tat in the escalating trade skirmish between the world’s second-largest economy and the 27-nation EU bloc.
Spain, the Netherlands, and Denmark stand to lose the most from these new duties. The three countries have long been the EU’s largest pork exporters to China, with Spain alone accounting for nearly half of the EU’s pork shipments to the Chinese market. At their peak in 2020, EU pork exports to China reached 7.4 billion euros (about $7.9 billion), as China turned abroad to fill a supply gap after its own pig farms were devastated by African swine fever. By 2023, those exports had dropped sharply to 2.5 billion euros ($2.6 billion), reflecting both China’s domestic recovery and shifting global demand.
For Belgium, the new tariffs are a bitter pill. Belgian pork exports to China, which only resumed in January 2024 after a five-year suspension due to swine fever, are now under threat. Michael Gore, managing director of Febev—the federation representing Belgian slaughterhouses and meat wholesalers—told Belga that the tariffs will “certainly have an impact on production and the value of pig carcasses.” He explained that China is a crucial market for products like trotters and ears, which fetch little value in Europe but command a premium in China. “Dozens of containers are now at sea and will be caught out by the measure,” Gore lamented.
European pig farmers are already grappling with weak demand at home and the lingering effects of disease outbreaks. The sudden imposition of tariffs threatens to make matters worse, especially for those who rely on exports to balance their books. Gore expressed hope that political and diplomatic efforts might soften the blow, noting that “lower duties apply to certain other countries, so there must be room for manoeuvre.” Still, the uncertainty is palpable, with producers and traders left in limbo as they await the final outcome of China’s investigation, expected by December 2025.
On the EU side, the response has been swift and defiant. The European Commission described Beijing’s dumping allegations as “questionable” and vowed to defend the interests of European producers. “I can categorically assure you that we will take all the necessary steps to defend our producers,” a Commission spokesperson told reporters. The escalating dispute has the potential to further inflame trade tensions, especially as the EU has already imposed tariffs of up to 45% on Chinese electric cars—a move that Beijing has openly criticized.
But the story doesn’t end with pork and cars. China has also launched investigations into other European goods, including brandy and dairy products, while Brussels has floated probes into Chinese wind turbines and medical devices. As Reuters and The Economic Times report, both sides appear to be choosing their targets carefully—hitting politically sensitive sectors without triggering broader economic fallout. Pork, after all, is a staple in Chinese diets and a key component of the country’s consumer price index, but it’s also a product where China has some flexibility. Alternative suppliers such as Brazil, the United States, and even Russia are ready to fill any shortfalls, though logistical adjustments will take time.
For China’s government, the new tariffs serve multiple purposes. Domestically, they’re a tool to stabilize producer margins after two tough years in the hog cycle, marked by overcapacity, low prices, and mounting losses for mid-sized farms. As Reuters notes, Chinese regulators have long used a mix of reserve purchases, price warnings, and capacity guidance to manage the market. The country’s 14th Five-Year Plan emphasizes food security, stable supplies, and the modernization of agriculture. By curbing low-priced imports, authorities hope to put a firmer floor under farmgate prices without fueling inflation—a delicate balancing act as China’s economy faces broader headwinds.
The duties themselves are nuanced. Companies that cooperated with the Chinese investigation face lower tariffs and may be able to maintain some shipments if margins allow. Those hit with the highest rate—62.4%—are effectively shut out of the market. The preliminary nature of the ruling leaves the door open for adjustment, especially if negotiations between Beijing and Brussels make progress on the electric vehicle dispute. As one industry observer put it, “Both sides are staging retaliatory moves with legal cover while keeping the door ajar for settlement.”
For European packers like Danish Crown and Spanish exporters, the immediate challenge will be finding new markets for products suddenly priced out of China. Some may attempt to divert shipments to other destinations, but global prices could come under pressure as a result. Meanwhile, Chinese retailers and consumers are unlikely to see abrupt changes, thanks to government reserve releases and alternative sourcing strategies.
Looking ahead, three variables will shape how the dispute unfolds: the outcome of the EU-China electric vehicle talks, the state of China’s domestic pork supply (including any new disease outbreaks), and potential legal challenges at the World Trade Organization. For now, the message from Beijing is clear: China will not hesitate to use trade remedies to protect its domestic industries and signal its resolve in ongoing disputes.
As the dust settles, one thing is certain—global supply chains and policy playbooks are being rewritten. For pork producers, traders, and consumers on both sides of the globe, the coming months will bring uncertainty, tough choices, and the need to adapt quickly to a shifting landscape.
